Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2741. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied that there are strong enough measures in place to deal with local authority tenants involved in anti-social behaviour. [34568/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am satisfied that there are strong enough powers available to local authorities at present in relation to dealing with anti-social behaviour.
In relation to tenants engaging in anti-social behaviour in a local authority dwelling, the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 provides for a court order on application by the tenant, tenant purchaser or the housing authority or approved body concerned, which has the effect of excluding a household member engaged in anti-social behaviour from the dwelling and, if appropriate, from the estate in question for a maximum period of three years. The Act also empowers a housing authority to refuse to allocate or sell a dwelling to a person engaged in anti-social behaviour or in the interest of good estate management.
The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 strengthened the powers of housing authorities in relation to securing excluding orders where there is anti-social behaviour in their housing stock. Part 2 of the 2014 Act prescribes procedures to deal with serious breaches of the tenancy agreements for their dwellings, including anti-social behaviour and strengthens the power of housing authorities to recover possession of their dwellings from households in serious breach of their tenancy agreements, including engaging in anti-social behaviour.
